Hyde Vineyards, A Carneros Estate Rooted in Terroir

Jun 1

2 min read

Updated: Oct 8

Wine tasting on the patio at Eleven Eleven Winery in Napa

Hyde Vineyards is one of Napa Valley’s most respected family-owned vineyard estates, with deep roots in the cool-climate Carneros AVA. The Hyde family has been farming grapes in the region for decades, and the estate has become particularly well known for producing exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that reflect the distinctive character of the Carneros terroir.

The vineyards benefit from the cool influence of San Pablo Bay, creating a longer, slower growing season that allows the grapes to develop flavor and complexity while maintaining bright acidity. That balance is a defining characteristic of wines from the region, and it comes through beautifully in Hyde’s estate-grown wines.

The tasting room overlooks rows of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, offering sweeping views of the estate vineyards. With private tastings, the experience at Hyde Vineyards is intimate and immersive, giving guests the opportunity to slow down, take in the setting, and experience the wines in a relaxed wine-country environment.

While Hyde is particularly renowned for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the estate also produces compelling wines like the 2020 Larry Hyde Merlot, which offers a nice expression of the varietal and provides an interesting look at another side of this celebrated Carneros estate.

As a featured destination in the 2026 Napa Vine Pass, enjoy Hyde Vineyards’ Casual Bar tasting for $25 per person, a $25 savings, plus enjoy $10 shipping on any 3+ bottle purchase.

Wine Review: 2020 Merlot -- Hyde Vineyards

The 2020 Larry Hyde Vineyards Merlot is a rich, expressive wine combining ripe dark fruit, French oak, earthy complexity, and enough acidity to keep it lively and balanced. This is a fuller-bodied Merlot with a polished texture and the structure to develop beautifully with age.

The wine is 100% Merlot, aged 18 months in French oak, with 50% new oak. At 14.9% alcohol, it has generous weight and richness, balanced by medium acidity and medium-plus tannins.

In the glass, it shows a medium-plus ruby color, medium staining, and moderate opacity. The nose is expressive, with fresh cherries, red fruit, black currant, earth, and pronounced oak, followed by subtle notes of leather, tar, and tobacco.

On the palate, darker black and blue fruit takes center stage, with ripe fruit, lively acidity, and medium-plus tannins providing structure. The French oak lingers on the finish alongside earthy and subtle mineral notes.

This is a somewhat heavier style of Merlot, but the combination of fruit, acidity, tannin, and oak gives it excellent balance and aging potential. I would expect it to develop nicely for another 10 years or more.

The 2020 growing season was challenging, with reduced yields and several heat spikes. Fortunately, the fruit for this wine was harvested before the Glass Fire in late September.

It's a wine I'd recommend picking up when you visit Hyde Vineyards.

Overall: A round, luscious, medium-to-full-bodied Merlot with expressive fruit, layered aromatics, and excellent structure.

Price: $95

Alcohol: 14.9%

Varietal: 100% Merlot

Oak: 18 months in French oak, 50% new

AVA: Carneros AVA, Napa Valley

My recommendation: Buy it, and rest it for several years in the bottle.

Food Pairings: Mushroon Herb Risotto, Braised Short Ribs, Pork Tenderloin with a Cherry Glaze